Do you have an idea that could help CMU achieve its strategic priorities? Consider applying for a Go Grant to bring that idea to life!
The Go Grants initiative was designed to help CMU students, faculty and staff engage with the university’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan in a meaningful way. These targeted grants, ranging in value from $5,000 to $50,000, will provide funding for proposals that are aligned with CMU’s strategic planning priorities and goals and that have potential to make a positive impact on students and/or the communities we serve.
Why “Go Grants?
The word “go” implies immediate action and motion, and that’s exactly what we hope Go Grants will drive! These one-time funds are intended to inspire action on CMU’s strategic priorities, helping our community achieve its goals in meaningful ways and involving more of our students, faculty and staff in this important university-wide effort.
Go Grant proposal criteria
- Any CMU student, faculty or staff member may apply for a Go Grant. Groups of students, faculty and staff, departments, divisions and other CMU stakeholder groups are also eligible to apply.
- Proposals must be aligned with one or more of the strategic plan priorities:
Please note: Submissions for course releases are not eligible for Go Grants.
Submission deadline
The window for submission for 2024-2025 Go Grants has closed.
Go Grants Symposium
The inaugural Go Grants Symposium will feature panel discussions, multimedia and interactive displays highlighting the 2025 Go Grant Recipients.
Go Grants Symposium
Bovee University Center Rotunda
February 10, 2026
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Note: Program times are approximate; the schedule is open to change.
1:30 p.m. - Welcome and Overview
1:40 p.m. - AD3PT Center Upgrade (video)
1:45 p.m. - Faculty and Staff Development Moderated Panel Discussion
2:05 p.m. - InSciTE Program One-Year STEM Speaker Series and Panel Initiative (video)
2:15 p.m. - Student Development Moderated Panel Discussion
2:35 p.m.- Writing an Inspirational CMU-themed Song (video)
2:45 p.m. - Interactive Poster Presentations and Demonstrations, refreshments available
3:15 p.m. - CMU High School Aerial Video Challenge (video)
3:20 p.m. - Musical Performance: CMU Music in Our Communities
3:30 p.m. - Enhancements for the Student Activity Center (video)
3:35 p.m. - Student Support Moderated Panel Discussion
3:55 p.m. - Paint the Town Maroon (video)
4:00 p.m. - Community Outreach and Engagement Moderated Panel Discussion
4:20 p.m. - Closing Remarks
New ‘How to College’ seminars tackle first-year challenges
Two years ago, Central Michigan University set out to increase retention rates by introducing Student Success Seminars. The program, designed for students with a first-semester grade point average below 2.0, is already seeing positive results, with students who complete the course experiencing a 12.5% higher retention rate than those who do not.
Building off that success, Executive Director of Academic Advising and Student Success Evan Montague saw Go Grant funding as an opportunity to take that idea one step further by connecting with incoming freshmen as they begin their academic journey.
“I go back to the theme of ‘student success early is better,’” Montague said. “So, we came up with this concept of ‘How to College’.”
The joint effort between academic advising and the Counseling Center covers how to handle some of the biggest challenges new students face, including time and stress management, academic success, finding your fit on campus and making friends.
“The group we were really trying to target is the group that's not connected to anything else,” he said. “Our intention is to build this out as a 0-credit hour course that, during orientation, we can plug into students who may be more in need of that kind of option.”
The first iteration of the “How to College” seminars this past fall brought students together for one hour a week for four straight weeks with sessions facilitated by the advising and counseling teams. Montague’s team plans to apply the findings and feedback from the initial participants to future sessions as the seminars continue to evolve.
“Our hope is to have this all positioned as we go on to new student orientation next summer,” he said. “We can then use it almost more as a prescriptive measure.”
Students in need of continued support can take part in the Student Success Seminars this spring to help keep them on track.
Go Grants in Action is a year-long series that shares the stories of how CMU students, faculty and staff are making a positive impact on the people and communities we serve through the Go Grants initiative.